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1. What
can I do to get ready for my trip?
First, the most productive thing you can do is read all of our
published material about your trip, and read it as soon as you sign up,
not right before you leave for Belize. There are a lot of factors that
influence your enjoyment of your trip, and many of them hinge on being
prepared. We consider the following
to be required reading for those joining us: (1) the detailed itinerary information of the trip you are
signing up for, (2) this page, (3) the Belize
page, (4) the Flying to Belize page,
(5) Our Hints for a Better Vacation, and (6) our
Reservation and Cancellation Policy. You can request
all of these documents by filling out our on-line form. Our
staff will be happy to answer any questions you have; give us a
call (800) 390-5715.
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2. How
do I fly to Belize?
Please visit our Flying to Belize page for
complete information on flying to Belize.
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3. Do
I really need to fly in a day early as recommended on your
Flying
to Belize page?
Most of our guests who do
not have the additional time to fly in early do not experience any
problems on the way. However, there is a percentage that do
experience problems; we saw a definite increase in cancelled and delayed
flights last season. There are not many flights to Belize, so if you miss
your flight you will almost certainly arrive a full 24 hours later than
you originally intended. Being a day late is not a good way to begin your
vacation! If you can arrange to get the additional time off work, arriving
a day early is definitely the best way to avoid any problems in meeting the group on
time. One reason so few of our guests have trouble is because of our
recommendation to fly a day early.
Holidays are when most problems occur because
the airline industry is generally over-booked.
If
you do plan to extend your stay by several days, we recommend you extend
it before your trip with us, rather than after. This both eliminates the
possibility of missing our meeting, and allows you time to get accustomed
to the heat in
Belize.
To read our
recommendations of what to do in Belize before your trip, visit
Other Things to Do in Belize.
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4. On Belize Adventure
Week, the first night’s meeting time is at 4:30 p.m., and my flight
arrives at 4:20 p.m., will I make it on time?
Our Belize Adventure Week itinerary
meets at 4:30 p.m. because we drive to Western Belize, leaving the
Biltmore by 5:00 p.m. A flight arriving at 4:20 is fine, but do not accept
reservations for flights that arrive after 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. If you
miss our ride, you will have to catch a cab which will cost $1-200.
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5. Do
I need a passport?
Passports are required
for travel to Belize. Don’t wait until the last minute to apply! For an
application, contact the U.S. Post Office. You will
send the U.S. Passport Service a certified birth certificate along with
passport photos and the completed form. Passports are good for ten years
and cannot expire
while you are there or
you will not be allowed into the country. More Belize
information is found elsewhere on our site.
Visas are automatically distributed on the plane to U.S., Canada, and British citizens.
Persons from other countries need to contact their consulate.
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6. What
if my passport gets lost in Belize?
As a precaution, make
two copies of the first page and carry one in a different place from your
passport and leave one with a friend at home.
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7.
I see I need a buddy for each activity. What if I am traveling alone?
Many of our
guests are single travelers. You need not worry about needing a “buddy”
for sport activities, there are always plenty of people looking for
activity partners on our trips.
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8.
Is there an extra charge for a single? No,
all guests are booked double occupancy if possible, which means guests
traveling alone are booked in hotel rooms with other guests of the same
gender. If there is no other person of the same gender without a roommate
we pay the extra cost for a private room. Depending on the couple/single
and male/female breakdown on a full trip there may not be enough cabanas
or rooms for everyone and we may have to get creative (putting 3 in one
room, or booking rooms at a different lodge altogether). We do our best,
but as these are small, remote lodges we have to go with what is
available. If you are traveling alone don't worry about rooming with
someone else, we spend little time in our cabanas. Most people are very
active and if they are chilling out they are just as likely to be 'hanging
out' (literally) in our hammock palapa as in their cabana. Mostly you use
your lodging to change clothes and to fall fast asleep after an exciting
day!
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Want more information on our trips?
Request further information from us and we'll send
it today.
9. Do
you sell accommodations only on your private island at Glover's Reef?
We do not
sell accommodations only. Our island is extremely remote, and safe and
reliable transport is expensive. There is no restaurant nearby, in fact
there is no one on the island but our guests, our staff, and the dive shop
crew. The only way to insure that vacations at our exclusive location are
affordable is to group visitors together on specific dates. Therefore, we
package everything together and the only way to visit our island is to
purchase a package. The packages include hotel and restaurant meals in
Belize City immediately before and after the full-week island trip,
transport to and from the island, lodging and meals while on the island,
unlimited beer and soda, and complete use of our sports equipment, which includes instruction.
There would be no discount if you wanted to stay at the island but didn’t
want to participate in one or more of the sports. We have an exclusive
location with limited group sizes, and
all of the equipment and staff are there for you regardless of how much
you take advantage of it.
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10. Can we rent your kayaks without going on a trip?
We don’t rent our
sports gear for many reasons. Transport and duty fees double the value of
gear and there is no way to replace it. Our equipment is based at our
private island resort 35 miles off shore, which is reserved for our
guests; it would have to be transported at least that far for rental use.
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 11. I just
checked out your trip and it looks fantastic. However, I was wondering about the
rates. Why are your prices in line with a fancy resort when you have
rustic accommodations? Perhaps I missed something?
While other lodges focus on accommodations, we focus on sports. We have
over 40 sea kayaks for 22 people (so everyone gets a kayak that fits
them), multiple windsurf set-ups for beginner, intermediate and advanced
sailors, top-of-the line surf kayaks for the ultimate
surfing trip,
surf boards for those with experience and chosen for our wave, special
kayaks for fishermen, and expert
staff with 5 - 20 years experience guiding and instructing these sports. All of this gear is driven over 3000 miles to Belize.
No resort in Belize comes close to the sports experience we provide. At
our place you won't find maid service, flush toilets, or umbrellas in your
drinks. But you will get the best sports experience available in
the country: kayaking to wild spots for a
snorkeling trip out of the kayaks with expert guides or
windsurfing to the next island over. If accommodations are your priority
you should shop around. Our program is not for everyone, but it is no less
expensive to deliver this kind of experience. Not to mention the fact that
we have a private island! It's the best island in Belize, with all the
best toys.
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should
be in good shape. We recommend working out on a rowing machine or swimming
laps before your trip. The better shape you are in, the more you will
enjoy yourself. Full instruction is included in all sports, and the
80-degree water is an ideal setting to learn or improve your skills. Our
